Hello, I am trying to decide on a Digital SLR. I like the Nikon D200. I can't decide which lens to put with it. Is the Nikkor 18-55mm good enough or should I try the 18-135mm or should I be thinking of a more expensive lens. Thanks for your help. Regards, Bert.

If you invest in a D200 you should go with the world-best super-zoom, the Nikon 18-200mm VR:
- Stabilized
- Great quality
- No need to change lenses...
- so reduced risk of dust
- and no loss of valuable time when changing lenses

Just to broaden the discussion, Gordon in his summary of the best semi-pro digital SLRs mentions that the Canon 30D successor (40D?) is expected by the end of the year. Tech.co.uk has posted an article which would tend to reinforce this view. Other posts (Google search) on the net, which of course are 100% reliable , suggest September 26th as a possible launch date for the 40D.

If you aren't in a hurry it might well be worth continuing your research phase for a couple of months if you think the Canon lens system might fit your future needs better but don't like either the slightly out of date 30D or the much more expensive 5D.

Hello, Thanks to Tom and Bob for their helpful comments. I have another question. Does anyone know about USA Photo Nation. I can hardly believe their prices. Most of their stuff is hundreds of US Dollars less than their competitors. For examole: Nikon D80 body is 299 US, Nikon 200D body is 629 US, Canon XTi Body is 249 US and most of their lenses are much cheaper. How is this possible. Or is it? thanks, Bert.

Do those sources also imply that Canon will have something equivalent to the Nikkor 18-200mm VR in the foreseeable future?

No, of course not and I am certainly not suggesting that the Nikkor 18-200mm isn't a very fine super-zoom. I suppose the question that only BertNoir can answer is whether, given that he is interested in a semi-pro body, a superzoom is what he wants.

By way of illustration, in the UK a D200 body plus an AF-S DX VR 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED would cost around £1260. The Canon EOS 30D Body is currently £560 so, speculating wildly about a camera that doesn't officially even exist, let's say the 40D will retail at £650. That leaves around £600 in the budget which will comfortably buy an EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM lens. Looking at the SLRGear.com Blur Index results suggests that optically that Canon lens is the sharper choice. Given the difference in price and more modest zoom range that is hardly surprising and I definitely don't want to cast aspersions on the Nikkor.

BertNoir,

Hope this friendly banter isn't a distraction. It is both a benefit and a drawback of forums like this that you can end up getting more advice than is helpful. If your heart is with the D200 then please ignore all of the above as both it and the Nikkor lenses are fine choices.

"friendly banter" that is!
And of course we can even confuse you more in saying: If the whole package D200+18-200VR is a little over budget I would not hesitate to suggest swaping the D200 for the D80 --------
b.t.w. 900th post